TORONTO --
With more than six million cases and counting, COVID-19 has hit every continent except Antarctica. From Canada to South Korea, every country has responded differently - in some cases, quite significantly.

Chart and compare the progression for jurisdictions that have reported more than 100 cases using our interactive graphs below.

Brief context and a timeline up to late March have been included for a few countries, focusing on their containment measures. Economic measures have been excluded.

These are a few examples of how Canada's reported data compares to other countries on a per-population basis. Choose countries from the dropdown menus to create your own comparisons or scroll down to read detailed timelines of select nations.

* Provinces, territories and global jurisdictions with fewer than 100 cases are not included.

For an overview on how to better understand the data, read our explainer outlining the different ways countries are reporting their numbers and what these variables could mean: Understanding COVID-19 data: Should we be comparing countries? It also looks specifically at examples including South Korea, Italy, and New Zealand to get a sense of how challenging comparisons can be, but also how crucial they will be in helping epidemiologists, scientists and other researchers learn from this pandemic.

Canada (Population 37.59 million, 2019)

Note: each region's timeline is adjusted to begin when the region announced its 100th case.

For a long time, the messaging from Canadian health officials was that the novel coronavirus outbreak risk for Canadians was low and that efforts would be concentrated on containing the spread. Government officials were also guided by advice from the World Health Organization, which had initially discouraged travel restrictions, border closures and the wearing of masks, positions that were later criticized as the spread became increasingly dire in many countries. As the tally of cases grew in Canada, an increasing number involved travel to and from the United States, where the current number of identified cases alone has already surpassed a million. Residents in both countries together made more than 65 million cross-border trips in 2017, according to Statistics Canada; the level of movement between the two countries made containment impossible without drastic measures. The 8,891 kilometre-long border was closed to non-essential travel by March 20.

For more background on Canada’s handling of COVID-19, read our report detailing the evolution of Canada’s plans to fight the virus, the response by each province, and track every case.

Germany (Population 82.79 million, 2018)

The country has been hit hard by COVID-19, but has received attention due to its low mortality rate of less than 1.5 per cent, compared to other European countries like Italy, where the mortality rate stands at around 12 per cent, and roughly 9 to 10 per cent for Spain, France and Britain. But the testing rate of the latter three countries is a fraction of Germany's (as of April 9) - which may also account for the higher death rate. Germany’s current testing rate for the same period seems comparable to Italy's, though some media reports indicate that Germany was able to ramp up extensive testing more quickly and earlier. Germany also has more than double the number of hospital beds than Italy and Spain, according to OECD data, and many media reports cite Germany's "expensive and extensive" public health care system as a key reason for the lower mortality rate. Like many other countries, however, there has been ongoing concern over a shortage of masks and other protective equipment.

Germany's outbreak also began mostly among young and healthy skiers who caught the virus at European ski resorts and the overall average age of infected patients is still more than a decade younger than its neighbouring countries. At first, the government appeared reluctant to impose physical distancing measures, travel restrictions, school and border closures, even as it advised against unnecessary travel and asked recent travellers from high-risk destinations to stay home. Despite the low fatality rate, the number of Germany's overall infection numbers is still among the highest in the world and some German health experts worry that the situation could worsen.

Timeline of Key Measures

Jan. 22

Government considers the new disease a "very low threat", and far less dangerous than SARS; no need for a travel warning for the time being

According to media reports, face masks are sold out, and measures to screen travellers from high-risk regions of China are in place at Frankfurt Airport, which has no direct flights to and from Wuhan

Feb. 13

According to media reports, the European Union discusses co-ordinated measures to mitigate the spread

German parliament changes its drug law so that companies can store larger quantities in the event of a shortage amid worries of production downtimes in China

German health minister believes any travel restrictions to and from China should be made across Europe, and not done unilaterally like in Italy; also rejects temperature screenings for inbound travellers​

Feb. 26

Some regions of Germany begin closing schools and other public places such as libraries and swimming pool

Several sporting events are cancelled or suspended

Feb. 27

Travellers arriving from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Italy are required to provide contact details in case they need to be tracked over possible infections​

Robert Koch Institute (German public health institute) raises threat level for Germany to “moderate,”while the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control raises threat level for Europe to “high” from “moderate”

India (Population 1.339 billion, 2017)

There is significant worry that COVID-19 could be devastating for India, the world’s second most populous country. Despite the high risk of spread due to its dense population, testing has been extremely limited. According to the OECD, India also has just 0.5 hospital beds for every 1,000 people - China, by comparison, has 4.3 beds. Already, there are reports of outbreaks in slums, where families live in extreme poverty and crowded conditions. A sudden lockdown imposed across the country sparked a mass exodus of migrant labourers back to their home villages, raising worries of possible outbreaks in regions poorly equipped to handle a health-care crisis.

Italy (Population 60.48 million, 2018)

The percentage of Italy’s population over 65 is the second highest in the world, second only to Japan, according to the world bank. “Dozens” were dying in nursing homes in the worst-affected areas, but were untested due to strict testing rules, according to media reports. Testing criteria also varied between jurisdictions; in the small town of Vo, mass testing was said to help quickly contain the spread. Leaders, including the president, downplayed the outbreak in the early days, resulting in initial complacency.

New Zealand (Population 4.794 million, 2017)

New Zealand, which reported its first case roughly a month after Europe and North America, may have benefited from seeing how its counterparts in Europe and North America fared and is notable due to how quickly it moved to mitigate the spread by closing its borders even when only a handful of cases were reported. Nearly two and a half months after its first case, the country is already reporting a decline in the number of new cases and has only had a 19 deaths.

With just over 100 cases, government decides to raise national alert level to 4 in two days, which triggers a highly restrictive four-week nationwide lockdown

Bars, restaurants and other non-essential services ordered toclose within two days

United States (Population 327.2 million, 2018)

Testing was severely hampered in the first several weeks according to medical journal articles and numerous media reports. Screening was “rationed” because only CDC – not public health or hospital labs – could run the tests initially, with a strict criteria for testing only those with known exposure. State labs also ran into verification problems with the CDC test kits, with results coming back “inconclusive or invalid due to failure of the negative control”. Under pressure by state labs to expand testing capacity, the FDA finally allowed them to develop and use their own tests by the end of February. But even when the testing criteria was loosened and testing capacity ramped up, the demand far exceeded availability. Compounding the regulatory and technical problems with testing was the political response at all levels of government, with responses between cities and states and the White House varying from skepticism to urgency to conflicting over the situation, despite warnings. Even prior to the outbreak in China, government reports, pandemic prep exercises as late as last year were not taken seriously. For a pandemic where the situation can take a drastic turn from one day to the next, the world’s richest country “squandered” an entire month, a New York Times investigation said.

Governors in NY, California, and other large states are ordering most businesses to close and for people to stay indoors, with varying exceptions

March 24

15 states impose lockdown orders in less than a week

March 28

Only 2,250 tests per million have been performed, two-thirds of what South Korea was able to accomplish three weeks earlier, since regulations around testing were loosened four weeks earlier, according to the Washington Post.

South Korea (Population 51.47 million, 2017)

South Korea aggressively ramped up their testing capacity, contact tracing, tracking, and quarantine measures in a national, co-ordinated, and detailed fashion. “Patient 31” was identified around mid February, and was the source of a mass outbreak. Drive-through testing sites were established quickly, offering citizens an efficient way of getting tested while minimizing exposure to others, with test results sent via text within three days. A high-level of transparency, at times seen as controversial and intrusive, allowed for real-time anonymous information being shared with the public as well as tracking. Using phone GPS tracking and credit card information, and CCTV cameras, officials can trace the movements of an infected patient and alert those who were in contact or nearby. Officials are also alerted when an infected individual ventures outside their quarantine zone through a phone app. Outside Daegu, the centre of the biggest outbreak cluster and a few other cities, many parts of South Korea are operating under relatively minimal restrictions, though schools remain closed. Mask wearing is extremely common everywhere.

Timeline of Key Measures

Jan 3

Quarantine and screening measures placed for all travellers coming from Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization was informed on Dec. 31 of an unknown pneumonia detected in the city. They issued a press release on Jan 5)

Health authorities strengthen national surveillance of pneumonia cases in hospitals

Jan 20

First case of COVID-19 is identified in a traveller from Wuhan through thermal screening during entry at Incheon International Airport

Infectious disease alert is raised to from blue to yellow (level 2)

Public told to continue hand washing, cough etiquette, and mask-wearing if they have respiratory symptoms

National hotline available for public to report symptoms within 14 days of travel

Inbound travellers who visited Wuhan within 14 days are asked to submit health questionnaire and to report to health officials if fever or respiratory symptoms develop

Jan 27

Concerned that the novel coronavirus could become a pandemic, health officials and more than 20 medical companies meet to discuss urgency of developing effective test, promising “swift regulatory approval,” according to a Reuters investigation

The first diagnostic test from a company is approved within a week (Feb 4) and a second company is ready by Feb 12

Jan 28

All inbound travellers (Korean and foreign) coming from anywhere in China subject to tougher screening and quarantine measures, including a health questionnaire at the point of entry; false information subject to a fine of up to US$10,000

Infectious disease alert raised to “orange” - level 3

Jan 29

Additional staff added to the KCDC’s national call centre to deal with an influx in calls for consultation

Occupational safety and health agency to provide 720,000 masks to industries and workplaces considered more vulnerable to infectious diseases due to the large number of foreign employees or visitors. These include construction, manufacturing and service industries

Feb 2-4

Anyone with contact with patients who tested positive must self-isolate for 14 days

Similar to those coming from China, all inbound travellers (both citizens and foreigners) from Japan, Italy, Iran, and within days - rest of Europe - must undergo special immigration screening, including installing a Self-Diagnosis Mobile App where they must submit daily results for 14 days (authorities will follow-up in person if travellers fail to comply with self-checks) and advised to “minimize movement”